An Asbestos Lawyer Explains

If you think you’ve sustained an injury or illness because of your service on a Navy ship, you should consider speaking to an asbestos attorney about your rights and options for legal action.

Dangerous Asbestos on Ships

The Mesothelioma Center estimates that U.S. navy service members were exposed to much more asbestos than any personnel in any other military branch. This was corroborated by the release of medical records and schematics that showed the use of asbestos in ships, bases, logistical buildings and planes. The Mesothelioma Center also states that at least 20 different kinds of positions in the Navy are considered to have had a high risk of asbestos exposure. Some of these positions included boilermaker, boiler technician, engine mechanic and other personnel whose duties were mainly below deck. Other vulnerable positions included:

• Boatswain’s mate
• Damage controlman
• Aviation machinist mate
• Gunner’s mate
• Hull technician
• Engineman
• Construction Battalion workers/Seabees
• Pipefitters
• Water Tender

Though the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does offer some medical assistance for those affected by asbestos exposure during their service, there is no guarantee that it will be adequate for the level of care you require. Additionally, there may not be any kind of compensation available for the lost wages you suffered as a result of being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, throat cancer or another condition that prevented you from holding employment. Lastly, there is no kind of VA payments available for the pain and hardship you and your family may be experiencing.

Conversely, legal action with the help of an asbestos attorney can potentially result in damages being awarded to you to pay for your medical costs, loss of wages, pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

Contact Our Asbestos Lawyers for Help Today

Contact our office today. There’s no need for you and your family to suffer the unknown future that comes with a mesothelioma, lung cancer or throat cancer diagnosis. You have the legal right to pursue compensation and having an experienced asbestos attorney can help you successfully pursue a claim.

Last month, a group of over 100 industrial workers filed a lawsuit against Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum, alleging that they suffered mesothelioma cancer and other respiratory conditions due to asbestos exposure.

The lawsuit alleges that current and former stadium employees, including independent contractors, were negligently exposed to asbestos and other hazardous materials over their decades of work at the crumbling stadium. This case comes almost a year after OSHA cited the arena on 16 different violations of workplace safety standards, many of which were related to asbestos exposure. The levied fines came close to $88,000.

Will the Nassau Coliseum Complaints Become a Class Action Lawsuit?

Although it is not a class action lawsuit at this time, the workers harmed may be certified as a class, whereby the individual complaints will be consolidated into one case. The lawsuit seeks damages between $500 million to $1 billion. This is due to both the high cost of treating mesothelioma cancer and other respiratory conditions, in addition to lost wages, pain and suffering and other serious damages caused by asbestos exposure. So far, it was reported that one woman alleged the exposure caused the wrongful death of her husband.

Asbestos Exposure Continues to Plague Workers

The first asbestos-related claims began in 1929, and the number of lawsuits has increased steadily in the intervening decades. Asbestos was first regulated in 1970 – only 2 years before the Nassau Coliseum opened to the public. Since then, millions of affected workers have filed suit against the negligent manufacturers who exposed them to toxic materials.

It is a myth that asbestos lawsuits are a thing of the past. As we see with the high profile case against the Nassau Coliseum, there is still a great many workers affected by asbestos and there will continue to be in the future. An unfortunate aspect of asbestos is that it takes decades for symptoms of mesothelioma to appear, and many workers are not diagnosed with cancer until the disease has progressed. Long-term exposure to asbestos can result in incredibly serious medical conditions:

• Mesothelioma cancer
• Lung cancer
• Asbestosis
• Throat cancer

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with a disease or injury due to asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering and medical expenses. Contact our mesothelioma law firm today to speak with one of our experienced asbestos attorneys.

In June 2012, five former railroad workers sued BNSF Railway Company over allegations that occupational asbestos exposure caused their lung diseases. The former workers claim that BNSF managers knew about the dangers of prolonged asbestos exposure and failed to warn employees. Some of the plaintiffs dedicated more than 30 years to the railroad. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “the plaintiffs said they worked in and around engines, boilers, railroad tracks and other areas where they were exposed to asbestos and other substances without protection,” and that “because of exposure to dust, fumes and vapors, the men contracted lung diseases that diminished their quality of life and reduced their life expectancy.” The plaintiffs, who live in Fort Worth, Arlington and Cleburne, filed the lawsuit in Tarrant County, Texas. Others have filed similar lawsuits against BNSF.

BNSF is not the only railroad company to face asbestos litigation. In February 2012, seven former Union Pacific employees who worked as conductors, brakemen or switchmen between 1971 and 2011 filed an asbestos lawsuit against the company in the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division. The men claim that Union Pacific continued to use asbestos-containing products despite knowing the potential health hazards, failed to provide a safe work environment, failed to warn employees about the presence and danger of asbestos, failed to provide proper respirators, failed to provide plaintiffs with medical examinations or to medically monitor them, and violated its own asbestos policies.

If occupational asbestos exposure may have caused your illness, an experienced mesothelioma attorney can protect your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and a mesothelioma lawyer can help you fight to get it.

If you or your loved one has developed an asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma, lung cancer or throat cancer, contact a knowledgeable asbestos attorney today to learn about your legal rights. An asbestos lawyer can determine whether you may be entitled to compensation from a negligent employer or other parties.

As Dan explained, “When you have an event like a fire, depending on the age of building, [asbestos] can be on walls, ceilings, floor tile or behind walls as insulation and piping.” Asbestos warning signs and tape were reportedly posted at the site on January 22. According to the Castle Rock News-Press, Fire Chief Art Morales was unsure whether any firefighters had been exposed to asbestos while responding to the fire.

Firefighting is one of several occupations with a heightened risk of asbestos exposure. During a fire, toxic asbestos fibers can be released into the air, the inhalation of which can lead to serious health problems, including mesothelioma. Asbestos dust may also be present in the rubble that remains after a fire has been put out. Firefighters not only risk immediate physical harm as they battle blazes, but they also risk long-term harm to their health if they are exposed to asbestos.

Victims of asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, an experienced asbestos attorney can help you get the compensation you need and deserve. To learn more about your legal rights, contact an asbestos lawyer today.

Some of the asbestos-containing products that firefighters might encounter in a fire-damaged building include:

• Roofing materials
• Attic insulation
• Pipe covering and insulation
• Electrical wiring insulation
• Heating ducts
• Sheetrock
• Spackle
• Brick and block mortar
• Decorative plaster
• Ceiling tiles
• Vinyl flooring
• Vinyl wallpaper
• Textured paints
• Certain household appliances

If you or your family member developed mesothelioma after working as a firefighter or in another high-risk occupation, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a mesothelioma attorney today to discuss your case. A qualified mesothelioma lawyer will protect your legal rights and fight for the justice you deserve.

The Orphan Drug Act gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to grant orphan status to drugs with the potential to effectively treat, diagnose or prevent rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States, such as mesothelioma. According to Dr. Julia Maltzman, senior director of clinical development at Morphotek, “Ultimately, this antibody has the potential to provide an additional treatment option for patients suffering from an extremely serious disease.”

Researchers presented the results of a study involving amatuximab used in combination with chemotherapy at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s 2012 Annual Meeting. They concluded that amatuximab, in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin, was “generally well-tolerated” with 90 percent of patients “having an objective tumor response or stable disease by independent radiological review.” According to Morphotek, amatuximab targets mesothelin, a cell surface glycoprotein “associated with a range of cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, mesothelioma, epithelial ovarian cancer, and lung adenocarcinoma.”

In addition to mesothelioma,  asbestos exposure can lead to lung cancer, throat cancer, asbestosis and other serious illnesses. According to the Environmental Working Group, nearly 10,000 Americans die annually from diseases caused by asbestos. Workers in certain occupations have a higher risk of asbestos exposure, including textile mill workers, construction and demolition workers, auto production workers, auto mechanics, electricians, shipbuilders, railroad workers, and aircraft mechanics. If asbestos has harmed you or your loved one, contact a qualified asbestos attorney today. An asbestos lawyer can help you get the compensation you need and deserve.

Breathing in toxic asbestos fibers can lead to the development of mesothelioma, lung cancer, throat cancer and other serious illnesses. Certain occupations have an especially high risk of asbestos exposure. Auto mechanics, construction and demolition workers, railroad workers, aircraft mechanics, textile mill workers and shipyard workers are all at risk of being exposed to asbestos on the job, and these are just a few examples. Families of these workers are also at risk of asbestos exposure, as dangerous asbestos fibers can be carried home on a worker’s clothing.

In the auto industry, manufacturers started using asbestos in brake lining and clutch pads because of its heat-resistant nature. Although major auto manufacturers in the United States have stopped using asbestos-containing parts in new vehicles, mechanics servicing older vehicles remain at high risk of asbestos exposure. Additionally, asbestos-containing aftermarket parts continue to be imported into the U.S. and used in repairs. If you have developed an asbestos-related disease and currently or previously worked in the auto repair industry, contact an experienced asbestos attorney today. An asbestos lawyer can review your case to determine whether you may be entitled to compensation.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “millions of asbestos fibers can be released during brake and clutch servicing.” The EPA’s current best practices for preventing asbestos exposure among brake and clutch repair workers include the following requirements established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration:

• Workers in commercial auto shops performing more than five clutch or brake jobs per week must use a negative-pressure enclosure/HEPA vacuum system method, a low pressure/wet cleaning method, or an equivalent method
• Workers in commercial auto shops performing five or less clutch or brake jobs per week can use a wet wipe method

As the EPA points out, “you cannot tell whether brake or clutch components contain asbestos simply by looking at them.” As such, auto mechanics should err on the side of caution and always assume brake and clutch components contain asbestos. Employers have a duty to provide workers with proper safety equipment and training. Failing to protect workers from potential asbestos exposure puts their health and their lives at risk.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, contact a qualified mesothelioma attorney today to learn about your legal rights. A mesothelioma lawyer can help you get the compensation you need and deserve.

Don Fillers, who was salvaging and demolishing the SCT yarn plant with his older brother Gary, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $20,000. Gary Fillers had pleaded guilty early on. He was sentenced to six months of home confinement prior to his death in August. The business set up by the Fillers brothers in connection with the SCT project, Watkins Street Project LLC, also received a fine of $30,000. Wood, the project foreman, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release, while Mathis, owner of the demolition firm, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.

The defendants were also ordered to pay $27,899 in restitution to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Chattanooga Department of Public Works and the Chattanooga Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Board for their efforts to clean up the toxic asbestos.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “the evidence proved that the defendants entered into a year-long scheme in which the plant was illegally demolished while still containing extensive amounts of asbestos. Additionally, the defendants hired day laborers and paid them low wages to remove asbestos-containing materials without following federal regulations, which were intended to keep the asbestos, a known carcinogen, from becoming airborne where it could be inhaled.” Authorities say the defendants falsified documents in an attempt to cover up their illegal activities and that Wood lied to federal investigators.

In construction and demolition projects, it is extremely important for asbestos to be properly handled and disposed of to minimize workers’ and the public’s exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Asbestos exposure has been linked to several types of cancer, including mesothelioma, which kills approximately 3,000 people in the United States each year. According to U.S. Attorney William C. Killian, the sentences in the SCT case “send a strong message that criminal violations of environmental laws designed to protect human health from exposure to hazardous substances, such as asbestos, will not be tolerated.”

Asbestos victims may be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has been harmed by asbestos, an experienced asbestos attorney or mesothelioma lawyer will fight to hold negligent parties accountable in civil court, so you can get the compensation you need and deserve. To learn more about your legal rights, contact a knowledgeable mesothelioma attorney or asbestos lawyer today.

Maryland-based chemical company W.R. Grace mined vermiculite just outside of town for decades. The asbestos dust in Libby reportedly came from the mine itself as well as processing plants along the Kootenai River. According to the Associated Press, Superfund cleanup efforts in Libby have cost at least $447 million since 1999 and are expected to continue for several more years. Superfund is the federal government’s program to clean up uncontrolled hazardous waste sites around the country.

W.R. Grace has objected to the EPA’s proposed standard, claiming it could prompt costly cleanup at sites across the country. According to the Associated Press, manufacturing and trade groups, as well as the White House Office of Management and Budget, have also raised concerns about the proposed standard, as it falls “below even background asbestos levels seen in some parts of the country.”

Asbestos exposure is known to cause several types of cancer and other serious health problems. In fact, most cases of mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of cancer that kills an estimated 3,000 people annually in the United States are a result of asbestos exposure. A mesothelioma attorney helps victims of asbestos exposure stand up for their legal rights. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, an experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you get the compensation you need and deserve.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester urged the EPA in mid-October to move forward with its proposed standard, saying, “residents of Libby have grown frustrated waiting for a pending risk study to be completed.” The EPA is expected to make a final decision sometime next year.

If you or your family member has been harmed by asbestos exposure, contact an asbestos attorney today. You may be entitled to compensation, and a qualified asbestos lawyer can help you fight to get it.

The recall was initiated after customs authorities in Australia detected asbestos in engine and exhaust gaskets. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, at the time of the Australian recall, Chery indicated that workers had erroneously used a batch of auto parts not intended for Australia-bound vehicles. A spokesperson for the company who commented on the expanded recall said, “The same supplier that provided the parts for the cars made for Australia also mistakenly provided us parts containing asbestos that went into these other cars.” He did not identify the supplier by name.

Chery’s expanded recall has sparked some concern about the adequacy of Chinese automakers’ quality control procedures, especially as these companies continue to increase exports. According to Bloomberg, the official trade chamber estimates that Chinese vehicle exports could rise by as much as 50 percent this year. Last year, Chery sold a record 160,200 units overseas, up 73 percent from the year before. The company currently sells to more than 80 countries and regions around the world. Jeff Chung, an analyst at Daiwa Capital Markets Hong Kong Ltd., believes that although the recent recalls “may damp consumer confidence in China-made cars in the short to medium term . . . the impact won’t be major.”

Asbestos-containing car parts do not necessarily pose a risk to drivers, but they certainly pose a risk to anyone who comes into direct contact with the asbestos. Asbestos exposure has been linked to several types of cancer, including malignant mesothelioma. This rare but deadly form of cancer kills an estimated 3,000 people in the United States each year. Mechanics who work on vehicles with asbestos-containing parts risk inhaling the toxic mineral fibers, which poses a serious risk to their health. The automotive industry is one of many occupations with a high risk for asbestos exposure. When a worker is diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, an asbestos attorney is there to help. Asbestos lawyers stand up to negligent companies, providing mesothelioma victims and their families with the support they need during a difficult time.

Victims of asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. If you or your loved one has mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, let a mesothelioma attorney fight for the compensation your family needs and deserves. To learn about your legal rights, call an experienced mesothelioma lawyer today.

Not only does this discovery have the potential to drive advances in gene therapy, it can also help people with a genetic predisposition to mesothelioma minimize their risk of developing the disease by avoiding exposure to toxic asbestos fibers. For instance, people with BAP1 gene mutations would be wise to stay away from occupations with a historically high risk of asbestos exposure, such as construction and demolition, automobile manufacturing and repair, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, shipbuilding, electrical work, and textile production. As Carbone points out, “If you were to know that you are in a family in which you carry this [genetic] alteration, probably you would think to do something else in your life.”

The 14-year study involved two families with an unusually high incidence of mesothelioma. According to a National Cancer Institute press release, researchers found that every family member with malignant mesothelioma or melanoma of the eye who provided a sample carried a BAP1 gene mutation. The press release goes on to say that researchers also sequenced the gene in 26 mesothelioma patients with no family history of the disease, discovering that roughly 25 percent had BAP1 gene mutations, two of which were inherited. This study was featured in the August 2011 issue of Nature Genetics, and it was the focus of the Third Annual Translational Cancer Medicine Symposium held last December.

Malignant mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer typically associated with exposure to asbestos. It kills about 3,000 people in the United States each year, and rates of new cases in Europe and Asia have risen steadily in the last decade. Mesothelioma victims may be entitled to compensation from any party who negligently exposed them to asbestos. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with this deadly disease, contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney or asbestos lawyer today to learn about your rights. A qualified mesothelioma lawyer or asbestos attorney can help you get the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled.